SCIENCE
My research in graduate school proceeded along two tracks, one in examining the rotation of molecules in liquids using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and the other in using the new instrumental technique of Ion Cyclotron Resonance to study ion-molecule reactions in gases.
At JPL, I continued along the latter track, examining the fundamentals of ion-molecule reactions and their importance in interstellar clouds, comets, and planetary atmospheres. Our research group also conducted theoretical modeling studies of the chemistry in interstellar clouds, comets, and in the upper atmosphere of planetary atmospheres.
Working at JPL c.1970
Combining laboratory data with data from the ion mass spectrometer on board the Giotto flyby mission, we constructed chemical models of the coma of Comet Halley to understand the original composition of the comet’s frozen ices. In addition to laboratory and modeling studies, astronomical observations were conducted of interstellar clouds and young stellar objects using the CFHT telescope on Mauna Kea.
As an Administrator at NASA headquarters, I started a new science program in astrobiology and after moving to the Geophysical Laboratory (now part of the Earth and Planets Laboratory) encouraged research in astrobiology and pre-biotic organic chemistry.
Scientific publications in:
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance:
Use of NMR techniques to study how molecules rotate in liquids
Ion Cyclotron Resonance:
Development of techniques and utilization of ICR in chemical physics
Gas phase Ion-Molecule Reactions:
Determination of reaction types, product distributions and kinetics
Astrochemistry:
Chemistry in interstellar clouds, comets, and planetary atmospheres
Astronomical Observations:
Infra-red spectroscopy of interstellar clouds and young stars
Spacecraft Data Analysis:
Analysis of lunar samples and in-situ measurement of ions at Comet Halley
Astrobiology:
Survival of microbes at high pressure
Earth Atmospheric Science:
Ionic processes in the upper atmosphere